Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not see the new Prime Minister of Greece saying to Chancellor Angela Merkel that on top of his country's existing economic problems, he plans to give everyone free water. If no other country in the European Union is doing it, why should we be any different? Country people who have provided their own water for generations know its value and they welcome that they are finally getting some recognition for their efforts. Sinn Féin can install 35,000 meters north of the Border at a cost of £13 million, put water charges into a deep freeze until after the Northern Ireland Executive elections, get rid of 20,000 public servants, cut welfare and bring down the Northern Ireland Executive just to avoid being unpopular. Fianna Fáil are trying to forget that it wanted to levy €400 on every household. The reality is that most people know water has to be paid for. While it falls out of the sky freely, it has to be pumped and treated. It has to be chlorinated and fluoridated, and people have to work in those treatment plants. It also has to be treated at the other end. The Government has gone a long way towards meeting people's concerns. We are in a far better situation than heretofore but that bears no resemblance to the scenario that a couple of Deputies opposite, who could not even bring their own with them, would have us face.

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